New Guinea Impatiens plant named `Woya`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named `Woya`, characterized by its flat medium pink-colored flowers with dark hot pink &#34;eye&#34;; floriferousness; outwardly spreading, rounded and compact growth habit; and dark green, somewhat glossy, non-variegated foliage.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri, known by the name Kiwoya, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Woya.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Gensingen, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new varieties that have a uniform plant habit, attractive flower colors, good flower form and numerous flowers per plant.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the inventor of a proprietary seedling selection identified as P496 as the male, or pollen parent, with the proprietary seedling selection identified as W892 as the female, or seed patent. The cultivar Woya was discovered and selected by the inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Gensingen, Germany. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken at Gensingen, Germany, has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of `Woya`. These characteristics in combination distinguish `Woya` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat medium pink-colored flowers with dark hot pink "eye".

2. Very freely flowering.

3. Outwardly spreading, rounded and compact growth habit.

4. Dark green, somewhat glossy, non-variegated foliage.

The new New Guinea Impatiens is similar in flower color to the New Guinea Impatiens cultivar Light Pink (U.S. Plant Patent Applied For). However in side-by-side comparisons in Encinitas, Calif., under commercial practice, plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens differed from plants of the cultivar Light Pink in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Guinea Impatiens are more outwardly spreading, compact and denser than plants of the cultivar Light Pink.

2. Stems of the new New Guinea Impatiens are twice as thick as stems of plants of the cultivar Light Pink.

3. Adaxial surfaces of leaves of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are redder than lower surfaces of leaves of plants of the cultivar Light Pink.

4. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are more freely flowering than plants of the cultivar Light Pink.

5. Flowers of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens have a more distinct "eye" than flowers of plants of the cultivar Light Pink.

6. Peduncles of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are longer and more red than flower spurs of plants of the cultivar Light Pink. A detailed comparison of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens and the cultivar Light Pink appears in Chart A at the end of the specification.

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of theis type.

The first photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typical plant of `Woya`.

The second photograph comprises a close-up view of typical flowers and upper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of leaves of the cultivars Light Pink (top of photo) and Woya (bottom of photo). Flower and foliage colors in the photographs may differ from the actual colors due to light reflectance.

The cultivar Woya has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown 10-cm pots in Encinitas, Calif., under commercial practice in a fiberglass-covered greenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 23 to 29C. and night temperatures ranging from 16 to 18C. and about 3,000 footcandles.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Classification:

Botanical.--Impatiens hawkeri `Woya`.

Commercial.--New Guinea Impatiens cv. Woya.

Parentage:

Male parent.--Proprietary seedling selection P496.

Female parent.--Proprietary seedling selection W892.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Terminal cuttings.

time to initiate roots.--About 15 days with 21C soil temperature.

Plant description:

Plant form.--Outwardly spreading, rounded, mounded and compact.

Growth habit.--Moderately vigorous. Moderate branching, dense and bushy. Suitable for 10 to 25-cm containers.

Plant size.--Height: About 20 cm. Width or spread: About 24 cm.

Lateral branches.--Quantity: Five to seven. Size: Length: 13 to 15 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Internode length: About 6 cm. Color: 146B with stripes of 59A.

Foliage description.--Leaves simple, generally symmetrical, abundant, opposite or in whorls of three, horizontal to plant and flat in aspect. Size, largest leaves: Length: 10 to 11.5 cm. Width: About 4.8 cm. Shape: Ovate with acuminate apex, attenuate base and ciliate margin. Texture: Smooth, somewhat glossy. Color: Young foliage, upper surface: 137A. Young foliage, lower surface: 59A. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 60A. Venation, upper surface: 60A. Venation, lower surface: 60A/60B. Petiole: Size: Length: 3.5 to 4 cm. Diameter: 4 to 5 mm. Color: 60B.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.--Medium pink-colored flowers with dark hot pink "eye". Very freely and continuously flowering. Flowers arise from leaf axils. Usually ten to twelve flowers per lateral branch. Flowers positioned at or just above the foliage and face upward or outward. Flowers flat and rounded triangular or rectangular. Flowers persistent.

Flowering season.--Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In the garden, flowering is continuous from spring until fall.

Flower size.--Length: About 6.5 cm. Width: About 5.5 cm. Depth: About 5 mm.

Flower buds.--Size: Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 61C/55A.

Petals.--Quantity: Five. Size (largest petals): Length: Top petal: About 3 cm. Middle petals: About 3.2 cm. Bottom petals: About 4 cm. Width: Top petal: About 4.8 cm. Middle petals: About 3 cm. Bottom petals: About 4.2 cm. Shape: Cordate with emarginate apex, cuneate or obtuse base and entire margin. Texture: Velvety, smooth. Color: When opening, upper surface: Iridescent, 66A/65A. When opening, lower surface: Iridescent, 65A/65B. Fully opened, upper surface: Iridescent, 66C with edges of 65A and bases of 57A that form a dark hot pink "eye". Fully opened, lower surface: Iridescent, 66D. Fading to: 68C/68D, edges fade to white.

Spur.--Length: About 6.8 cm. Shape: Narrow and curved. Color: 63A.

Peduncles.--Length: About 5.2 cm. Angle: Outward. Strength: Strong. Color: 147C with stripes of 58A.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Stamen number: Five, anthers fused, filaments free. Anther shape: Obovate. Anther size: 6 by 4 mm. Anther color: Cream. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: Cream. Gynoecium: Five-loculate fused. Gynoecium length: About 7 mm. Gynoecium color: Darker than 59A.

Disease resistance: Under commercial conditions, resistance nor susceptibility to pathogens has not been observed.

Seed development: Seed production is not usually observed.

                  CHART A                                                          ______________________________________                                         CHARACTERISTIC   `WOYA`      `LIGHT PINK`                                      ______________________________________                                         GROWTH HABIT     Outwardly   Slightly                                                           spreading,  upright,                                                           rounded     open,                                                              mounding,   mounding                                                           compact                                                       PLANT HEIGHT     About 20 cm About 22 cm                                       PLANT WIDTH      About 24 cm About 26 cm                                       NUMBER OF LATERAL                                                                               5 to 7      About 5                                           BRANCHES                                                                       LATERAL BRANCH   About 1.2 cm                                                                               About 6 mm                                        DIAMETER                                                                       LEAF COLOR, YOUNG,                                                                              137A        144A                                              UPPER SURFACE                                                                  LEAF COLOR, YOUNG,                                                                              59A         144A                                              LOWER SURFACE                                                                  LEAF COLOR, MATURE,                                                                             147A        147A                                              UPPER SURFACE                                                                  LEAF COLOR, MATURE,                                                                             60A         146B                                              LOWER SURFACE                                                                  LEAF VENATION COLOR,                                                                            60A         59D                                               UPPER SURFACE                                                                  LEAF VENATION COLOR,                                                                            60A/60B     146D with                                         LOWER SURFACE                stripes                                                                        of 59B                                            PETIOLE COLOR    60B         63B                                               NUMBER OF FLOWERS                                                                               10 to 12    About 7                                           PER LATERAL BRANCH                                                             FLOWER LENGTH    About 6.5 cm                                                                               About 6.5 cm                                      FLOWER WIDTH     About 5.5 cm                                                                               About 6.5 cm                                      PETAL COLOR, WHEN                                                                               66A/65A     55B                                               OPENING, UPPER                                                                 SURFACE                                                                        PETAL COLOR, WHEN                                                                               65A/65B     55C                                               OPENING, LOWER                                                                 SURFACE                                                                        PETAL COLOR, OPENED,                                                                            66C with    55B with                                          UPPER SURFACE    edges       68A/68B                                                            of 65A      at petal                                                           and bases   base                                                               of 57A                                                        PETAL COLOR, OPENED,                                                                            66D         55C                                               LOWER SURFACE                                                                  PETAL COLOR FADING                                                                              68C/68D,    55D                                               TO               edges fade  to white                                                           to white                                                      SPUR LENGTH      About 6.8 cm                                                                               5 to 5.5 cm                                       SPUR COLOR       63A         51A/51C                                           PEDUNCLE LENGTH  About 5.2 cm                                                                               4.3 to 4.8 cm                                     PEDUNCLE COLOR   147C with   144B                                                               stripes                                                                        of 58A                                                        ______________________________________                                     

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named `Woya`, as illustrated and described. 